Anglo-American rock in Peninsular 'Generation X' fiction

One of the most salient features of contemporary Peninsular "Generation X" fiction is its self-conscious appropriation of Anglo-American rock music. This dissertation examines through an interdisciplinary approach how U.S. and British rock function within the literary current referred to as generacion x while taking into account issues such as globalization, commodification, and authenticity. Chapter one traces the emergence of the aforementioned writers onto the Spanish literary scene, giving special attention to certain preconditions, such as the "grunge" movement in the U.S., which quickly became a successful "import" to Spain. This brief foray into literary history is followed by an analysis of rock music as a valuable form cultural capital within Peninsular "Gen X" fiction and Spanish youth culture at large. By looking at Loriga's Lo peor de todo (1992), Manas's Mensaka (1995), and Prado's Nunca le des la mano a un pistolero zurdo (1996), chapter two deals with notoins of authenticity. Already a fundamental concern within the realm of popular music, the question of authenticity is all the more critical when discussing Anglo-American rock in Spain. Chapter three then studies rock as part of a long-standing, transnational ritual in Loriga's Heroes (1993) and Caidos del cielo (1995). Chapter four analyzes the relationship between rock and sexuality in the writing of Etxebarria---Amor, curiosidad, prozac y dudas (1997), Beatriz y los cuerpos celestes (1998), Courtney y yo (2004)---and Jose Machado, A dos ruedas (1996). In chapter five, Manas's Historias del Kronen (1994) reinforces one primary thesis of this study---that rock music is inherently polysemic, to the extent that meaning is contingent on use, particularly within the "transatlantic" context of Peninsular fiction. Finally, the works studied herein do not represent an attempt to subvert or destroy any dominant system, but rather, one finds subjects who use popular music and other cultural commodities as a means to develop and occupy various positions within a globalized late-capitalist culture. This attitude of posturing from with the system, often taking the form of trouble-as-fun, is synonymous with rock culture, thereby making rock music the ideal medium for understanding Peninsular Generation X fiction.